Use laptop as main monitor for Mac Pro?

[ahr4156]

Hi guys,

So I'm trying to travel with my mac pro but not have to bring a monitor as well. Would I be able to hook my laptop to be used as the monitor for the mac pro? I'm not asking about using a laptop as a second monitor but use it as the main monitor. Using a mac or pc?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[ActionableMango]

Yes, just use Screen Sharing or Remote Desktop. In that way you can use the laptop screen, keyboard, trackpad, mouse, etc to control the Mac Pro. You will need a network connection between the two computers. If there isn't an existing LAN where you will be doing this, a simple peer-to-peer connection using an Ethernet cable is fine too.

 

[ahr4156]

So I just start the Mac Pro (no monitor installed), plug the Ethernet in between the mac pro and laptop, and I should be good to go? Can you suggest any apps for screen sharing?

 

[Inutopia]

Screen sharing is built in to OS X. You'll need something to serve addresses to the 2 machines if you just plug them straight into each other, either that or use manual addressing.

You'll also need to enable screen sharing on the Mac Pro before you run it headless.

 

[ActionableMango]

So I just start the Mac Pro (no monitor installed), plug the Ethernet in between the mac pro and laptop, and I should be good to go? Can you suggest any apps for screen sharing?

Enable Screen Sharing on the Mac Pro.

If you will have a LAN where you are working, that's pretty much it. Just use Finder on the MacBook to find the Mac Pro and click Screen Sharing.

If you won't have a LAN where you will be working, you will either need to set up static IP addresses to use a cable between the two computers, or buy a simple router and stick it between the two computers.

Obviously test this before you move, where you still have access to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.